A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
THE WHAT IS? SILVER DICTIONARY

WINE FUNNEL
FUNNEL

Wine funnels, also called wine strainers, were used to decant to the bottle and from the bottle to the decanter.
Most wine funnels date from between 1770 and 1830, even if few examples of George II period are surviving. The use of wine funnel declined during the Victorian Reign.

silver funnel: Dresden 1786
Wine funnels are in one or in two pieces
The one piece wine funnel has a removable pierced strainer, usually joined to the body by a small chain.
one piece wine funnel with removable pierced strainer pierced strainer with small chain






pierced strainer with small chain
pierced bowl and a body of a two pieces wine funnel
The two pieces wine funnels havea pierced bowl and a body to contain it



or
removable spout applied to the strainer
a removable spout to apply to the strainer
removable inner ring retaining  a muslin straining cloth
Alternatively the bowl may include a removable inner ring to retain a muslin straining cloth
funnel with plain or reeded rim
funnel with plain or reeded rim
Examples of wine funnels made from 1770s and 1790s are usually plain or have a reeded rim
wine funnel with wide applied foliate rim
wide applied foliate rim
while later wine funnels are more elaborately decorated and have wider applied foliate rims.
curved end of the spout
curved end of the spout
The end of the spout is usually curved so that the wine would flow down the side of the bottle
small hook on the side
Often there's a small hook on the side
small hook on the side
wine funnel on the stand
Sometimes wine funnels had a stand with domed centre and short legs and the interior of the bowl was sometimes gilded.
wine funnel and stand
wine funnel modifications
At the present wine funnels are highly appreciated by collectors, but in the second half of 19th century they were often modified obtaining objects of more common use.
Cutting the spout the bowl was transformed into a tea strainer and closing the bottom into a sugar bowl or a salt cellar. Substituting the spout with a pedestal a cup was obtained and adding a low stem and a spout a milk creamer.



 
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